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What is a Website Builder?

In simple terms, a website builder is a platform that allows you to create a website without the need to write or edit code. Website builders are web-based, meaning you do not need to download or install software, you just need a browser (such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari) and an internet connection to start building your website! Website builders come jam-packed with a range of features such as uniquely designed website templates, drag-and-drop editors that allow you to easily add elements to your website and ‘built-in’ hosting services.

Website builder platforms – such as Wix and Squarespace– are ideally suited to small business owners seeking a cost-effective solution to managing and marketing their business’s online presence. Whether you’re a tech geek or new to online technologies, website builders offer multiple advantages. The platforms offer an intuitive design with drag and drop editors that enable you to design your website by selecting elements from a menu (such as an image or a form) and dragging them to your website’s page on your screen. They also offer hundreds of professional template designs and color schemes to choose from, enabling you to customize your website’s look and feel.

Since no behind-the-scenes coding experience is required, anyone can set up a website with a website builder service. It all begins with choosing your website template, adding widgets and specific elements (blogs, social media buttons, photo galleries, shopping carts etc.), and then publishing your website. You can either publish your site on a free plan (includes a non-unique domain and website builder advertising on your site) or upgrade to an advanced plan (includes unique domain and no advertising, plus additional features) from approximately $12 a month, depending on the plan and the website builder.

How to Choose a Website Builder?

There are several factors that need to be considered when choosing a website builder platform. These include cost, customization features, user-friendliness, and portability, among others. Depending on the industry that your business is involved in, cost considerations are important. Your return on investment (ROI) should always be factored into the equation vis-à-vis costs of the website builder package. Customization features refer to the level of personalization that you can add to the website, with buttons, features, and multimedia functionality.

User-friendliness is a reference to the technical expertise required to maintain and operate your website. The less complicated, the better. Finally, portability refers to the ease with which you will be able to hire website developers to make specific changes to your business website. Alternatively, you may also wish to migrate your website to a different platform once your business expands and this is something you should check before selecting your chosen platform.